Hearing set for library bomb suspect

A man charged with aggravated criminal threat for raising suspicion that he had carried a bomb into the Dodge City Public Library in August will appear in court this month.

Abigail Wilson

A man charged with aggravated criminal threat for raising suspicion that he had carried a bomb into the Dodge City Public Library in August will appear in court this month.A hearing for Jeffrey Thomas-Reddin, 51, is set for Dec. 11 at 1:20 p.m. Thomas-Reddin was involuntarily admitted to Larned State Hospital at the end of September upon request of his attorney. He was set to appear in court in September but hospital evaluation determined he needed further inpatient treatment.Thomas-Reddin was charged Aug. 25 with aggravated criminal threat causing terror, evacuation or disruption in connection with the incident that resulted in the evacuation of the library.Library staff and about 10 patrons were removed from the facility at 1001 Second Avenue after Thomas-Reddin was overheard talking on the pay phone in the lobby. According to witnesses, he made reference to an explosive device that would go off in 15 minutes. Library staff identified him to officers and the 51-year-old was escorted out of the building and taken into custody. Police Chief Craig Mellecker said Thomas-Reddin was compliant with officers.Local law enforcement officials sent for a K9 bomb unit out of Great Bend to do an exterior and interior sweep of the building. Following the sweep, the Kansas Highway Patrol Bomb unit examined a small backpack found in the building which was determined to not contain hazardous devices.